Deep within the Cold Water Gully, it was surprisingly free from the biting chill; instead, a warm current flowed gently, almost soothing. Who could imagine that at the end of this forbidden area lay such a hidden paradise…
Inside this cave, there was a stone bed—simple and crude in appearance, yet remarkably clean. Xiao Yufan lay there silently.
“How could someone just carelessly bring a person into the Cold Water Gully? What a mistake!”
An aged voice echoed through the gully. If Xiao Yufan had been awake, he would surely have seen an old man appear beside him. The elder’s steps were light, as if a mere gust of wind could carry him away.
Placing one hand on Xiao Yufan’s back, the frost covering his body began to melt away visibly. Soon, his clothes were soaked from the melting ice.
Under the influence of the elder’s energy, the Yu Long Zhen Jue (Imperial Dragon True Manual) within Xiao Yufan’s body began to circulate furiously. Warm currents surged through his body, and the numb coldness gradually gave way to warmth.
“Hmm, it seems even without my help, this young fellow could have recovered on his own. That’s rather strange!”
After a while, the elder withdrew his hand, observing the color slowly returning to Xiao Yufan’s face, a look of surprise crossing his own. Earlier, he had clearly sensed a warm energy within Xiao Yufan, but upon closer examination, he had detected nothing at all.
Meanwhile, in his unconscious state, Xiao Yufan felt the warm current gently nourishing his body, his inner energy slowly returning…
Indeed, the Yu Long Zhen Jue was a remarkable treasure. Without it, Xiao Yufan would likely have succumbed to the bitter cold long ago. Surprisingly, under the pressure of the Cold Water Gully’s chill, the Yu Long Zhen Jue had unknowingly advanced to its first stage.
“Where… am I?”
After a period of confusion, Xiao Yufan slowly regained consciousness, his eyes fluttering open. Looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings, his expression changed. He distinctly remembered collapsing—how had he ended up here?
“This is still the Cold Water Gully. Did the cold freeze your wits away?”
Xiao Yufan had barely spoken when he was startled—his voice had barely faded before another voice, calm yet unexpected, came from beside him. Though gentle, it sounded ghostly in his ears.
“Don’t worry, I’m a person, not a ghost. And even if I were, I wouldn’t be interested in a young man like you.”
Seeing Xiao Yufan’s sudden turn and expression, the elder’s face broke into a faint smile. He hadn’t interacted with outsiders for a long time, and suddenly encountering someone who had wandered into this hidden place brought a unique feeling.
“I suppose I was just too alert. Please don’t take offense, Senior,” Xiao Yufan replied with an awkward smile. He hadn’t expected someone to actually live in the Cold Water Gully. His earlier suspicions had been correct—this old man must have been here for decades.
“Haha, I’m not so petty as to hold a grudge against a junior like you. Tell me, how did you end up here in the Cold Water Gully? If I’m not mistaken, you’re not from the hidden Huangpu Clan!”
The elder asked with a smile, though a flicker of coldness flashed in his eyes. If this person were an outsider who had trespassed into the Huangpu Clan’s forbidden ground and even reached the Cold Water Gully, he would show no mercy.
At the sight of that icy gaze, Xiao Yufan involuntarily shivered, then proceeded to explain everything that had happened. It was then that he learned the elder was none other than Huangpu Xiu, the Grand Elder of the hidden Huangpu Clan.
“So that’s how it is! Seems like you’ve trampled our most precious flower, no wonder they threw you into the Cold Water Gully. Haha…”
As Xiao Yufan recounted his story, Huangpu Xiu suddenly burst into laughter, making Xiao Yufan sweat nervously. Why did this old man speak so oddly? Trample the flower? He was quite the dashing young man, thank you.
“Senior, may I ask you a question?”
“What is it now? Spit it out! If you’ve completed your mission, you should head back already!”
Seeing Xiao Yufan still had questions, Huangpu Xiu responded impatiently, though it was clear he was only pretending. He had been alone in the Cold Water Gully for so long that meeting someone was a rare joy.
“Erm… I was just wondering, Senior, why are you living here in the Cold Water Gully? Isn’t it supposed to be a forbidden area of the Huangpu Clan?”
Xiao Yufan asked with some curiosity. If the Cold Water Gully was indeed forbidden, why was the Grand Elder of the Huangpu Clan here—and judging by his appearance, he had been here for a very long time.
“Do you believe me if I say I’m here to cultivate? Actually, the Cold Water Gully isn’t exactly forbidden territory for the Huangpu Clan. It’s just that those who wandered in without enough strength were overtaken by the cold and perished. But if one is strong enough and lucky enough, it’s not necessarily dangerous.”
Huangpu Xiu replied with a smile, but Xiao Yufan could tell the elder wasn’t telling the whole truth. Still, as an outsider, he didn’t dare press further.
“Erm… I heard that long ago, those who entered the Cold Water Gully and managed to leave emerged much stronger. Is that true?”
Coughing slightly, Xiao Yufan recalled what Elder Huangpu Yi had said about the opportunity hidden here. His eyes lit up—this Grand Elder was clearly a hidden expert. If he could get something from him, it would be a huge benefit.
“If you want to fish for secrets, just say so. It’s true that those who left the Cold Water Gully in the past did gain some of the Huangpu Clan’s hidden techniques. But since you’re not one of us, those things won’t be of any use to you.”
“Come on! Isn’t that like discrimination? After all, I’m practically half-Huangpu now!”
Xiao Yufan was momentarily speechless. It seemed the elder had no intention of giving him anything. Was he really just wasting his trip? Sure, helping Huangpu Xian’er had been his mission, but he felt like he was missing out on something.
“Since you are now the son-in-law of the Huangpu Clan, I can’t let you go empty-handed. I’ll teach you something from the Huangpu Clan…”
As Xiao Yufan fell silent, Huangpu Xiu finally made a decision after a moment’s thought. Upon hearing this, a faint smile crept onto Xiao Yufan’s face—he had finally struck gold…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage